Any insight on where Hazel was today? No complaints about Burke, he played great. Just wondered.
I was wondering this myself.
I think Buzz wanted to stick with the full court press and go "small" with his guards whenever he took Burke out.
Burke played great and was not in foul trouble. Perhaps he doesn't have 100% faith in Hazel for this kind of game yet? Troubling seeing as how we'll need him down the stretch.
Would have been nice to see Hazel in some key BE play, but who knows, it may have cost us the big lead? We'll never know.
Buzz seems very prepared with his planned rotations (including issues with foul trouble) prior to these games. IMHO his rotations this year have been a major reason why MU is playing so well.
That seems spot on. Buzz's rotations have been just right this year. He's gone small at just the right time and he's gone big at...okay, not really possible this year, with injuries et al. But he has pressed the right buttons all year in terms of substitutions and lineups.
Most importantly, it seems that everyone is accepting a role, and Buzz is being consistent with playing time. He seems to be doing well with matchups, recognizing that matchups are both on defense and offense, especially with the going small strategy. I continue to be surprised at how well that is working against bigger teams.
Too many people keep talking about size as a disadvantage, that MU has bad matchups. But they are proving that size and quickness can be an advantage, that other teams can't easily matchup with them.
Although I won't predict a victory, I'm no longer afraid of UConn.
Louisville, just at their record demonstrates, gets it done, and will be the big challenge for MU.
Whatever Buzz is doing, it is working. If that means a bench consisting of a 5ft 8 guard and a 6ft 6 forward as your only subs, so be it.
But no Hazel, Fulce or Otule in last few games because the 4 main players have not been in foul trouble for many games now. That will change at some point.
Burke played great D on Monroe...buzz wouldn't let Monroe play without throwing Burke in there!